Wordless Wednesday (with words!)

They didn't paint around me, it was this way when I accidentally parked exactly in the right place.  I didn't notice it until I came back to the car.

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On the Road Again 02-03-15

I haven't been to see my friends Mary and Joe in San Juan Bautista since August - what with one thing or the other.  Joe is in a rehab facility for the next two weeks, so I might not see him.  But Mary and I are chattering away.  Funny we talk on the phone and via e-mail, but there is always so much to say when one sees a friend face-to-face.

 

I drove up this afternoon and thought I might arrive before dark (the road up the mountain to Mary's is winding, and very, very dark), but as I drove over the Grapevine I developed a nose bleed!  I thought it was just a passing thing, but I soaked several hands full of tissues and had to get off the road.  The Pyramid Lake exit was next, so I used their lovely, clean bathroom facilities to clean up a bit.  I did the usual things, squeeze the nose, lay back in the seat and hold the nose, apply ice (although a block of blue ice was probably not  terribly effective), and finally packed the nostril with a tissue plug.  It seemed to stop bleeding so I ventured back out  on the highway.  The plug on top of all my other efforts worked and it didn't bleed but a little bit after that.  It is one of those "what would you do?" things.  The first requirement is to get off the road because you can't stanch a nosebleed and pay attention to driving at the same time, much less keep the blood off your clothes.   The problem is caused by a deviated septum, so I guess  it is time to have my nose cauterized again.  It's been a dozen years at least since the last time I had this problem.   

 

It was terribly hazy all the way up I-5 so I couldn't take any pictures, I tried a few, but they were mostly just white.  But as the sun set it cleared a bit, so here are some sundown shots.

Just after the sun dropped below the mountains to the west.

 

As it dropped lower it lit up the clouds.

 

Even to the east of the highway there were pink clouds.

 

And then a hazy full moon with a star to the right and highway lights below.

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Els Vereycken quilt from SAQA Auction 2014 02-01-15

I find Els' work very inventive and always enjoy seeing her quilts.  There is another one in TCQC  http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/Els%20Vereycken

 

This one has the same sort of stark quality that I don't see very often. 

 

"Swallow"  Els Vereycken - Belgium 2014  12X12

Furnishing fabric (upholstery?), hand dyed fabric, hand and machine appliqued and quilted.

 

The white fabric that forms the border is the hand dye which feels so soft it is almost satin, but without the sheen.  There are four pieces of the darker fabric forming the background that are stitched with machine buttonhole.  Between these pieces there is a row of machine satin stitch which lends depth to the background.  The long wings are a dead giveaway that this is a swallow.

 

I  like the little "knotty" eye.

Nice label with full address and e-address, it is covered with a piece of vinyl.

For the edge, the white hand-dye is folded over and then topped with a grey iron-on seam binding.  It doesn't cover the edge of the turned under edge, so I don't know why she added that.    Quite a lovely piece with an unusual color palette.

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Friday Feet - AGAIN 01-30-15

I'm really slipping; all day yesterday I thought it was Friday, so I posted those wonderful boots for Friday Feet.  Today, of course, I have been thinking it is Saturday and have to keep reminding myself that I lost a day somewhere.  I am still struggling with my computer and tomorrow is the day that I plan to "hold" on the phone to see if I can get some answers.  I hope it doesn't require another upload/download from Carbonite - if so, you might not hear from me on Saturday!  I haven't  been taking pictures of feet lately, guess I just tired of it for a while.  But at the opening of the new exhibits at Visions Art Museum on the 17th I took a few and will bore you with them for the next couple weeks at least.  You never know what people will wear, in SCalifornia it doesn't necessarily depend on the weather. 

Tough Toes

Tip Toes

Twinkle Toes

Artsy Toes

Rested Toes

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Friday Feet 01-29-15

Boots at Red's Riding Academy   Photo by Diane Perin Hock

I apologize for missing a few days.  More computer problems and when they reset my browser it erased a few things, including Picasa.  I think I have more computer problems than anyone else in the world!  Or maybe I just complain more about them.  And, NO, I don't want to switch to a Mac, thank you.

The Surfside QGuild newsletter for February is posted.  You can check it out at:

http://www.surfsidequiltersguild.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3ZcqQDNWbTE%3d&tabid=152&mid=668

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Thinking about Corky 01-26-15

I've been feeling sentimental these days - missing my Corky dog. He died in November 2013.  I had lunch with Sherry, his mommy, the other day.  We had a Morrocan Salad from California Pizza Kitchen - so good.  And we talked about the Poodle Prince and his antics.  This picture was taken on January 25, 2005, just ten years ago, when he was just nine years old.  He was still a teenager then, but had already learned to control all of his people very well. 

This family isn't planning on having another dog, but they say they will take care of my dog, should I decide to add one to my life.  But I still travel too much - how could I go away for 3 or 4 weeks without my little companion?   

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Roberta Chalfy Miller quilt from SAQA auction 2013 01-25-15

 I have photographed this quilt three times trying to show a better representation of the color.  But it always comes out blue and yellow with a blue backing.  It is actually green, turquoise and ivory with a burgundy back!  I don't know why this is happening, my other pictures are fairly true to the actual colors.  Anyone know?   I think I purchased this because of the unusual materials used.  There are skeletonized leaves, a coarse  plastic (?) netting, paper and what appears to be gel medium.  

"Distance Mulitplied by Time" Roberta Chalfy Miller 2013  12"X12"

I'm math impaired, but I think that distance X time = speed.  A very long title for a little quilt. 

There are six skeletonized leaves.  The buttons are horizontal, I failed to rotate the image. 

 

This appears to be Angelina, but not the sparkly kind.  It forms a sort of raggedy border around the quilt. 

Here are the buttons again, in the correct orientation, and the mesh which looks like that used for bagging small veggies - like pearl onions or garlic.  

A machine written label - no contact though.

The edge is finished with an open zig-zag. 

Sort of plaid quilting on the burgundy backing.  

I must admit I like the coloration of the images more than those of the actual quilt, but I am that way about yellow and blue, one of my favorite combinations. 

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